Barrister Md. Abdus Salam, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. The appointment, effective for a three-year term, was announced through a circular signed by Mohammad Alamgir Haque, Assistant Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Saturday.

According to the circular, President Md. Shahabuddin, who also serves as the President of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, made the appointment under the authority granted by Article 10(1) of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Order, 1973 (President’s Order No. 26 of 1973). In a separate notification, a 14-member ad hoc managing board has been formed to ensure smooth administrative operations of the organization. Professor Md. Rafiqul Kabir has been named vice chairman, and Dr. Toufiq Md. Mosharraf Hossain (Rana) has been appointed treasurer.

The managing board will serve for three months from the date of issuance of the notification, as stated in the circular.

Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, emphasized that mastering modern media is essential for achieving political and ideological success for Islamists. Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of the ‘Majlis Media Network (MMN) Orientation Workshop’ at Darul Khilafah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Paltan, he said that media is a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and establishing state and political narratives. The day-long workshop was organized by the party’s central media cell with participation from selected representatives across the country.

Haque called for developing skilled manpower proficient in modern media language, strategy, and technology to effectively promote Islamic ideals. He urged responsible and professional media operations based on facts and objectivity. At the closing session, the party’s Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad said that building a creative and responsible media team is vital to communicate the organization’s ideology and programs to the public.

The workshop included sessions on news gathering, writing, photo and video production, social media management, fact-checking, and organizational communication, with discussions led by media professionals and researchers.

A teacher named Alamgir Hossain from Gopalnagar in Chauddagram, Comilla, has allegedly gone missing with a madrasa student for the second time, causing alarm in the area. The student’s mother filed a complaint on Saturday at the local police station, naming the teacher and three associates. According to the complaint, the 15-year-old ninth-grade student of Gopalnagar Mohila Alim Madrasa had been harassed and pressured with romantic proposals by Alamgir Hossain, a teacher from the madrasa’s Nurani section.

After the student’s mother reported the harassment to two other teachers, Alamgir allegedly abducted the girl on Thursday morning, forcing her into a CNG autorickshaw near the madrasa. Both have been missing since. Local sources said Alamgir had previously abducted the same student, but she was rescued by her family. A short video message later surfaced, reportedly sent by Alamgir to one of the girl’s relatives.

The madrasa’s acting principal said he had heard about the incident but was unaware of any previous case. Police stated that an investigation is underway and necessary action will be taken.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Maulana Zahirul Islam, elected from Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali), emphasized the importance of using modern technology in agriculture to make farmers more aware and skilled. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while addressing the 'Partner Field School Congress' as the chief guest at the Upazila Parishad auditorium in Banshkhali.

The congress was organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension under the 'Program on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Bangladesh (PARTNER)' project for the fiscal year 2025–26. The event featured presentations on the project's activities, achievements, and future plans by Upazila Agriculture Officer Shyamal Chandra Sarkar. Special guest Aminur Rahman Chowdhury, a member of Chattogram South District BNP and former chairman, also spoke at the event.

Presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, the congress was attended by agricultural officials, farmers, field school members, and local dignitaries. Speakers highlighted the need to expand technology use in farming to boost productivity and ensure sustainable agriculture.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Water Development Board has warned of short-term flooding in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Rangpur as river levels continue to rise due to heavy rainfall. The situation may persist for up to five days, according to officials. Additional alerts have been issued for Kamalganj in Netrokona, Kanaighat and Fenchuganj in Sylhet, and Mongla in Bagerhat, where localized flooding could also occur.

The centre reported that water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers have increased over the past 24 hours and may continue to rise for the next three days, potentially crossing danger levels in parts of the four northern districts. Although most major rivers remain below danger levels, ongoing rainfall in Bangladesh and upstream regions of India, including Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya, is contributing to the rise.

The forecast also indicates that the Surma and Kushiyara rivers may reach warning levels within three days, posing temporary inundation risks in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj.

Jamaat-e-Islami organized a protest march in Mirpur’s Rupnagar area on Saturday afternoon, denouncing an attack on the workers and supporters of Dhaka-16 MP Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Baten. The demonstration followed an alleged assault by ruling party activists that disrupted a meeting with constituents. The protest began with a rally led by central Majlis-e-Shura member and Dhaka-16 regional director Md. Nasir Uddin, who accused BNP activists of attempting to destabilize the political environment through violence.

Nasir Uddin urged BNP in Dhaka-16 to abandon negative politics and warned that the public would reject them if they continued such actions. He asserted that Jamaat members would not be silenced by attacks or conspiracies and called on the authorities to end political provocation and return to lawful politics. The rally, presided over by Rupnagar Thana Ameer Abu Hanif, was attended by several local leaders and concluded after marching through major roads in Mirpur-11.

According to reports, the previous day’s attack injured 10 to 15 Jamaat activists, including a ward councilor candidate. MP Abdul Baten blamed Rupnagar police for failing to prevent the incident and demanded the arrest of those responsible.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 20 people into Bangladesh through the Chauka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. The incident occurred late Friday night and became public on Saturday. BGB’s firm stance led to a brief face-off between the two border forces before BSF withdrew and halted the push-in attempt.

According to local sources and BGB officials, the 20 individuals included 11 women, four children, and five men. After the standoff, they were kept on the Indian side of the no-man’s land and later taken back by members of the 119 BSF Battalion from Sukdebpur Camp. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commander of the 59 BGB Battalion, confirmed the incident and said the attempt was successfully resisted.

He added that BGB remains on high alert along the border and has intensified patrols and surveillance to prevent any future push-in attempts.

The government has initiated a Tk 1,800 crore mega project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to modernize rural and municipal infrastructure in Pabna district. The proposed 'Pabna District Rural Infrastructure Development Project' is currently under process at the Ministry of Local Government. It includes construction and repair of rural roads, bridges, culverts, modern markets, ghats, rail crossings, and tree plantation programs for environmental balance.

A separate project is also being prepared to address waterlogging and improve road connectivity in Pabna municipality. Local leaders and officials said the initiative, driven by the efforts of Pabna-5 MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, is nearing final approval. Stakeholders including the district citizen committee and press club leaders expressed optimism that the project will boost local trade, ease transportation of agricultural goods, and improve civic amenities.

According to LGED officials, field-level feasibility studies have been completed, and the development project proposal for drainage and road modernization is progressing rapidly. Implementation will begin once ministerial approval is granted.

The Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) has called for the withdrawal of additional tax imposed on mid-range fossil fuel-powered reconditioned cars in the proposed 2026–27 national budget. The demand was made at a press conference held at Dhaka Club, where BARVIDA President Abdul Haque warned that the increased tax would raise car prices beyond middle-class affordability and put business investments at risk.

BARVIDA stated that the new budget introduces revised engine capacity slabs, raising the overall tax burden on popular fuel-efficient cars from 132.36% to 159.80%. This could increase the price of a reconditioned Toyota Premio by about Tk 300,000 and a Toyota Axio by Tk 250,000. The association also noted that while the government promotes electric vehicles with duty benefits, the lack of charging infrastructure limits their accessibility. BARVIDA urged equal duty benefits for both new and reconditioned plug-in hybrid cars and policy support for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles.

The association highlighted that the reconditioned vehicle sector represents around Tk 20,000 crore in local investment, generates Tk 6,000 crore in annual revenue, and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across related industries.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, called on citizens to be ready for another inevitable revolution to resist neo-fascism. He made the remarks on Saturday, June 20, 2026, while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at Khulna Circuit House ground. He said 200 million people are prepared to defend the country’s independence and sovereignty, warning that submission to hegemonic powers would not be tolerated.

The rally was organized to press demands including implementation of referendum results, alleviation of public suffering, and control of commodity prices. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar presided over the event, with LDP President Col. (Retd.) Dr. Oli Ahmed and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque among the special guests. Dr. Rahman criticized the previous Awami League government for breaking promises on democracy and social justice and accused it of using state forces against citizens.

He cautioned that if parliamentary solutions fail, mass movements from fields across major cities could create a new wave of public awakening that would eventually form the next government.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on students to pursue excellence not only in sports but also in education, music, and cultural activities to build a stronger nation. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the final match and prize-giving ceremony of the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament held at the Bangladesh Army Stadium.

Addressing young students, the Prime Minister emphasized that playing alone is not enough and urged them to advance in studies and creative work. He announced plans to organize the Gold Cup tournament at the secondary level this year and to introduce a Prime Minister’s Cup next year. This year, 2.2 million boys and girls participated in the football tournament organized nationwide by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

In the finals, Jorgacha United Government Primary School from Sathia, Pabna, won the girls’ division by defeating Achargaon Government Primary School of Nandail, Mymensingh, 4–2, while Dariar Mia Government Primary School from Bakerganj, Barishal, won the boys’ division by beating Darirampur Model Government Primary School of Trishal, 1–0.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tajul Islam stated that all citizens are united on the question of national sovereignty. In a Facebook post on Saturday, he emphasized that while criticism and debate are natural, everyone should stand together when it comes to defending the nation’s borders.

Speaking earlier on Friday at a workshop held at the Abdul Karim Sahityabisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy in Dhaka, Tajul Islam discussed the July killings, describing them as crimes against humanity under international law rather than genocide. He questioned why investigations and trials related to these crimes have slowed, noting that no new investigation reports or trials had been initiated in the past four months.

Tajul Islam urged that the trials of those responsible for the July killings be completed swiftly, warning that failure to do so could embolden those who previously acted with impunity.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the final round of the country's largest primary-level sports event, the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament (boys and girls), held at the Army Stadium in Dhaka. He arrived at the venue around 4 p.m. on Saturday and joined young students in hoisting the national flag before watching the girls’ final match between Achargaon Government Primary School of Nandail, Mymensingh, and Jorgacha United Government Primary School of Santhia, Pabna.

Earlier, the boys’ final took place where Dariyal Mia Government Primary School of Bakerganj, Barishal, defeated Darirampur Model Government Primary School of Trishal, Mymensingh, by 1–0 to become champions. The tournament began on April 6 and involved 65,342 government primary schools, with over 1.1 million boys and 1.1 million girls participating nationwide.

According to the Prime Minister’s Education and Primary and Mass Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, the competition progressed from village to divisional levels to identify grassroots football talent. Organizers plan to expand the next edition to include at least five million students.

Manarat International University held its orientation ceremony for newly admitted students on Saturday at the permanent campus auditorium in Ashulia. The event featured a festive atmosphere with colorful decorations, flowers, and cultural performances. Dhaka-19 Member of Parliament Dewan Mohammad Salauddin attended as chief guest, while Dhaka-14 MP Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem was guest of honor. The program was presided over by former secretary and Board of Trustees chairman Muhammad Fazlur Rahman, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rab also present.

Speakers emphasized the importance of combining academic excellence with moral values and national unity. The chief guest urged students to respect parents and teachers and prepare for future professional life, while the guest of honor encouraged youth to develop leadership and patriotism. The chairman reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing quality, ethics-based education under its motto “Center of Academic and Moral Excellence.”

The event concluded with cultural performances and greetings, marking a vibrant beginning for the new academic session.

A human chain was held in Purbadhala, Netrokona, on Saturday, June 20, 2026, protesting against Hindutva-inspired provocative statements and the initiative to build a large Ram statue in Gaibandha’s Palashbari as part of a Ram temple project. The event took place in front of the Purbadhala Press Club under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata, Purbadhala,” with participation from religious scholars, students, professionals, and local citizens.

Speakers at the demonstration said that any activity contrary to Bangladesh’s religious values, social harmony, and national sovereignty would not be tolerated. They condemned the statue initiative and recent inflammatory remarks, calling them threats to peace and communal harmony. Emphasizing Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty, they warned against foreign influence and divisive agendas.

Speakers also highlighted that Islam promotes justice, tolerance, and human dignity, rejecting oppression or discrimination. They stressed the joint responsibility of the state and society to protect minority rights and religious freedom, urging authorities to act against incitement and preserve communal harmony. The event concluded with a special prayer for national peace and prosperity.